Portrait(s) — Vichy Photography Rendezvous

Portrait(s): When Vichy Becomes a Photography Laboratory

Since 2013, every summer, the city of Vichy transforms into a vast open-air photographic trail. Portrait(s), the photographic rendezvous of the City of Vichy, is the only festival in France exclusively dedicated to the art of the portrait. From June to early October, exhibitions take over the most emblematic locations of the spa town, blending exceptional architectural heritage with contemporary photographic creation.

The Grand Établissement Thermal, the Festival's Showcase

The centerpiece of the festival, the Grand Établissement Thermal, a majestic building inaugurated in 1903, hosts the main monographic exhibition each year. This listed building, a jewel of thermal architecture, offers a spectacular setting for major retrospectives dedicated to internationally renowned photographers. Among the artists who have exhibited there: Denis Rouvre, Sarah Moon, Liu Bolin, Nadav Kander, Isabel Muñoz, and for the 2026 edition, David LaChapelle.

An Exhibition Trail Throughout the City

Beyond the Grand Établissement Thermal, Portrait(s) spreads throughout the city:

• The Lac d'Allier esplanade: monumental outdoor photographic exhibitions, accessible to all
• The Parc des Sources: photographic installations in one of Vichy's most beautiful parks
• The Halle des Sources: indoor exhibitions in this heritage site
• The Vichy University Center: exhibitions and artist residencies
• The Station forecourt: a photographic entry point for visitors

Artist Residencies and Cultural Mediation

The festival is not limited to exhibitions. It develops an ambitious program of photographic residencies, inviting artists to create on-site, in connection with the territory and its inhabitants. The mediation programs — La Voix du Regard, Des Mots pour voir, Portrait(s) s'invite à l'école — demonstrate a strong commitment to transmitting and educating through images, reaching all audiences, from schoolchildren to enlightened amateurs.

Constantly Growing Attendance

Since its creation, Portrait(s) has experienced remarkable growth. With nearly 57,000 visitors in its best editions, the festival has established itself as a major cultural highlight of the summer season in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The free access to most outdoor exhibitions, combined with the quality of the invited artists and the beauty of the venues, explains its popular success.

2026: David LaChapelle and the Bicentennial of Photography

The 14th edition of Portrait(s), from June 19 to October 4, 2026, promises to be exceptional. The Grand Établissement Thermal will host a major retrospective of David LaChapelle, with over 100 works spanning four decades of creation. In parallel, the festival will celebrate the Bicentennial of Photography (2026-2027), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Musée Nicéphore Niépce, through an unprecedented exhibition on the Lac d'Allier esplanade.